Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,125 per month in Santo Domingo vs $718 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,765 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,204 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,406 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,690 in Jarabacoa, rent included.

Santo Domingo costs about 57% more than Jarabacoa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Santo Domingo and Jarabacoa are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo 18% lower, Jarabacoa 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 DOP 601

$10.15 DOP 599

0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.77 DOP 2,934

$51.7 DOP 3,046

-3.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 DOP 471

Cappuccino

$2.40 DOP 142

$2.37 DOP 140

1.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 DOP 66.3

$1.14 DOP 67.1

-1.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 DOP 37.71

$0.69 DOP 40.67

-7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 DOP 151

$2.60 DOP 153

-1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 DOP 204

$3.53 DOP 208

-2.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 82.2

$1.40 DOP 82.5

-0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 DOP 92.9

$1.53 DOP 90.1

3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 DOP 97.6

$1.60 DOP 94.1

3.75%

Eggs

$2.40 DOP 141

$2.41 DOP 142

-0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.33 DOP 432

$7.28 DOP 429

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 DOP 342

$5.86 DOP 345

-1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.00 DOP 413

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 DOP 196

$3.24 DOP 191

2.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 DOP 49.82

$0.81 DOP 47.77

3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 DOP 163

$2.85 DOP 168

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 DOP 109

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 DOP 124

$2.03 DOP 120

3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 DOP 131

$2.24 DOP 132

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 DOP 59.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 DOP 58.3

$1.03 DOP 60.5

-3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 DOP 322

$5.54 DOP 327

-1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.41 DOP 614

$10.47 DOP 617

-0.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 DOP 159

$2.66 DOP 157

1.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 DOP 175

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 DOP 33.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.62 DOP 1,098

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 DOP 201

$3.44 DOP 203

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 DOP 132

$2.33 DOP 137

-3.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 DOP 341

$6.08 DOP 358

-4.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 DOP 83.7

$1.42 DOP 83.9

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.4K DOP 1.4M

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

-2.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.7K DOP 2.0M

$34.4K DOP 2.0M

-2.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.1 DOP 5,492

$94.0 DOP 5,543

-0.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.61 DOP 1,922

$32.17 DOP 1,897

1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.86 DOP 2,173

$37.46 DOP 2,209

-1.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.74 DOP 1,812

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.70 DOP 1,456

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 DOP 447

$7.70 DOP 454

-1.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$261 DOP 15.4K

$258 DOP 15.2K

1.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,954 DOP 410.0K

$6,941 DOP 409.2K

0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 DOP 2,735

$46.43 DOP 2,737

-0.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 DOP 2,771

$47.69 DOP 2,812

-1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 DOP 5,141

$88.3 DOP 5,204

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 DOP 7,399

$126 DOP 7,451

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 DOP 43.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 DOP 21.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,478 DOP 87.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 DOP 38.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 DOP 129.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,191 DOP 70.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 DOP 36.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Santo Domingo: September 5, 2026

Last update for Jarabacoa: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Santo Domingo versus $52.0 in Jarabacoa. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Santo Domingo vs $226 in Jarabacoa – so Jarabacoa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Santo Domingo vs Jarabacoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santo Domingo is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,687 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,077 in Jarabacoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,125 in Santo Domingo and $718 in Jarabacoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Santo Domingo and $258 in Jarabacoa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jarabacoa, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Santo Domingo at $1,125. In Jarabacoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jarabacoa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jarabacoa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santo Domingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.